Crime reporter

A group of West Australian men have been charged over a Leederville kidnapping hoax, which was broadcast on YouTube.

WA Police received a call from a member of the public who described seeing a handcuffed, naked male youth escape from the boot of a car and run into nearby bushland.

The mystery caller also described how the youth appeared to be being chased by another man on Vincent Street near the Mitchell Freeway overpass in Leederville.

But authorities claim the kidnapping was a hoax orchestrated by five young men.

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They recorded the fake kidnapping, edited the vision and then uploaded it onto one of their YouTube accounts, police will allege in court next month.

A 25-year-old man from Balcatta, a 23-year-old Shenton Park man, a 22-year-old West Leederville man, a 21-year-old Wembley man and a 21-year-old Carine man are due to face court over the allegation on March 5.

Each has been charged with creating a false belief.

The alleged hoax was not the first of its kind perpetrated by a group of young men in WA.

In August 2011, three boys were charged over a fake abduction at a Rockingham high school.

Two older boys, bother aged 18, had arranged to "kidnap" a 16-year-old student, descending on him in balaclavas as students were leaving for the day.

The pair allegedly pulled the student into a white van and speeding away as teachers and other students watched on.

The trio were found by Police at a nearby house and charged, according reports at the time.